A HAMMERSMITH & Fulham cabinet meeting erupted in fury when more than 100 residents voiced their anger at service funding cuts being rubber-stamped.

The meeting was forced to be held in the Assembly Hall instead of the council chamber because of the large public interest and security staff were drafted in as a precaution as the cabinet axed funding from a number of long-established groups and organisations in the borough.

A crowd of protesters gathered outside the town hall, in King Street at 6.30pm on Thursday (15/7) and were rallied by leader of opposition Stephen Cowan (pictured).

He said: "They will be hoping that we simply go away but we have to stand and fight against these cuts."

They then headed for the meeting where representatives from six of the organisations hit by council cuts were given five minutes to plea to the cabinet to reverse their decision.

But despite being warned that cabinet members 'may wish to question them' not one question was asked as the council members sat and listened to desperate attempts to save vital public services.

H&F council leader Stephen Greenhalgh (Con) and his cabinet then voted in favour of the proposals leading to cries of 'disgraceful' ringing out across the hall as they swiftly left.

Councillor Colin Aherne (Lab) said: "Not one question has been asked by anyone and opposition councillors were denied the chance to ask questions.

"It is a travesty and a shame on democracy. Residents are not being put first and I think it is disgraceful."

Hammersmith MP Andy Slaughter said: "I don't know how the council can behave in this way. This goes beyond politics and it is about humanity. I often think I have seen it all but this was the taxpayers being treated with total contempt."

Mr Greenhalgh said: "The majority of groups recognise the financial crisis we are all in and are constructively working with us to protect local services. "Many of the best-organised groups have shown an impressive recognition of the need to strive for increased independence from council funding, to develop new ways of working and make their services more sustainable. We really appreciate these efforts."